Tauern cycle path - From Krimml to Passau

This cycle route owes its name to a breathtaking mountain range. The route crosses rivers such as the Salzach, Saalach or Inn and leads to Salzburg and Passau with only a few ascents.

The Tauern Cycle Path Tour shows the most beautiful sides of this landscape.

Day 1: Individual arrival in Krimml

I am lucky enough to be the product manager for this beautiful cycle tour along the Tauern Cycle Path from Krimml to Passau. Now I finally want to see it for myself. We travelled to Zell am See by train and from there we took a taxi to Oberkrimml to enjoy the panoramic view of the Hohe Tauern. Alternatively, you can also take the Pinzgaubahn railway. We are overwhelmed by this Alpine panorama and the view of the Krimml waterfalls, which we can see from our hotel, the Panoramahotel Burgeck. We can even hear the roar of Europe's highest waterfalls from afar. We savour every moment!

Day 2: Krimml-Kaprun/ Zell am See

The next morning, we adjust our helmets for the first time and get on our bikes in the direction of the Krimml Waterfalls. We don't want to miss out on this natural spectacle! It's a good idea to get there early because we want to go on a hike and we still have almost 70 kilometres to cycle today. We are fascinated by the huge masses of water and the impressive rush. It is already 24 degrees and we refresh ourselves in the drizzle. We can feel and hear the force of the water. What an experience!

We continue through the Hohe Tauern National Park along the Salzach to Zell am See, situated at the foot of the mountain and on the shore of the lake in the immediate vicinity of the glacier. We cycle along the lakeshore to our next hotel, the Tirolerhof. The hotel is only 600 metres from the lakeshore, so we have the opportunity to stroll through the lively town in the evening.

Day 3: Zell am See-Lofer

We continue via Maria Alm to Lofer. On the way, we make a stop at the Seisenbergklamm gorge to explore it. After a 1-hour hike, we cycle on.

Once we arrive in Lofer, we receive our guest card at the hotel check-in. Among other things, this entitles us to a free ascent and descent of the Almenwelt Lofer, which we naturally make use of. We leave our bikes at the valley station. It's worth getting there early to explore the Wanderalm! We treat ourselves to a cool drink on the outdoor terrace of the Loderbichl mountain restaurant with unforgettable and priceless panoramic and valley views!

Day 4: Lofer-Salzburg

The early bird catches the worm! We set off for Salzburg so that we still have time to explore the city. On the way we come to Bad Reichenhall. Passing the Predigtstuhlbahn, the oldest cable car in the world, we make a short detour to Café Reber, discover the Mozart World and savour the Mozart coffee.

Once we arrive in Salzburg, we park our bikes at the hotel and set off on a stroll through the historic city centre. Afterwards, we quench our thirst with a Stiegl on the outdoor terrace of the Stiegl cellar below the Hohensalzburg Fortress with a unique view of the old town and the cathedral. The Stiegl tastes even better with this view! In the evening we have dinner in the beer garden of the Die Weisse restaurant.

Day 5: Salzburg-Burghausen

Today we leave the world of the Alps and cycle along the Inn to Burghausen. Even from a distance we can see Burghausen Castle, one of the longest castles in the world! Many events take place against this beautiful backdrop in the evenings in July/August.

Day 6: Burghausen-Bad Füssing

Our destination today is the spa and thermal resort of Bad Füssing. We cycle further along the Inn-what a colour of water, what a landscape-until we reach our next accommodation, the Ortner's Resort. With around 270 kilometres of cycling in our legs, we relax in the hotel's own thermal spring, the strongest sulphur spring in Europe. We've earned it!

Day 7: Bad Füssing-Passau

We set off on the last short stage to Passau a little wistfully, knowing that this wonderful journey is now coming to an end. We savour it to the full once again! We arrive in the city of three rivers with plenty of unforgettable impressions in our luggage. Here, of course, we explore the old town and review the tour at the Three Rivers Corner, where the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers meet. In the evening, we reward ourselves with a farewell dinner in the beer garden of the Bayerischer Löwe pub before setting off on our journey home the next morning after breakfast. What a cycle tour!

My Highlights

My favourite travel moment:

That feeling of hearing the mountain, breathing in the fresh mountain air, simply enjoying the mountain world!

My favourite place:

I don't have a favourite place because there were so many beautiful places!

Special restaurants/restaurants:

Lofer: Loderbichl mountain restaurant, Almenwelt Lofer, Loferer Almbahn 1 middle station

Salzburg: Stiegl Keller below Hohensalzburg Castle with a view of the cathedral and the historic city centre, as well as restaurant/beer garden Die Weisse

Passau: Bavarian Lion pub/beer garden

Cycle route characteristics/signposting/level of difficulty/gradients:

The tour starts at approx. 1100 metres above sea level and ends in Passau, which is 300 metres above sea level. There are only a few ascents to overcome on slightly downhill stretches. These are mainly asphalted or consist of paved gravel. An easy to moderately difficult tour.

We are overwhelmed by this Alpine panorama and the view of the Krimml waterfalls, which we can see from our hotel, the Panoramahotel Burgeck. We can even hear the roar of Europe's highest waterfalls from afar. We savour every moment!

Annika Krüger